Inconformity of CXCL3 Plasma Level and Placenta Expression in Preeclampsia and Its Effect on Trophoblast Viability and Invasion

<div><p>As a member of the chemokine family, CXCL3 was previously known to participate in many pathophysiological events. However, whether CXCL3 stimulates trophoblast invasion as a key process of preeclampsia pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate this hypothesis and determine the effect of CXCL3 on the first trimester trophoblast. Seventy gravidas were included in this study. ELISA was used to detect CXCL3 plasma levels on preeclampsia and normal pregnant groups. CXCL3 protein and mRNA levels were detected via Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR analysis after immunolocalized in human placenta. Moreover, the CXCL3 function in HTR-8/Svneo was analyzed via WST-1 assay, flow cytometry and invasion test. The plasma CXCL3 level in preeclampsia was significantly higher than that in normal pregnancy. CXCL3 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of placental trophoblasts and vascular endothelium in all groups without significant difference between maternal and fetal sides. In addition, placenta CXCL3 expression in severe preeclampsia was significantly lower than those in normal and mild PE groups. Moreover, exogenous CXCL3 can promote the proliferation and invasion of HTR-8/Svneo; however, its effect on apoptosis remains unclear. In summary, a significant abnormality of plasma CXCL3 level and placental CXCL3 expression was discovered in severe preeclampsia; CXCL3 had a function in trophoblast invasion, which indicated its participation in shallow implantation. Therefore CXCL3 might be involved in severe preeclampsia pathogenesis.</p></div

Plasma CXCL3 concentration.

<p>A:Plasma CXCL3 levels of normal pregnant women, mild preeclamptic pregnant women and severe preeclamptic pregnant women. Middle line: median; Whisker: standard deviation. B: The correlation between plasma CXCL3 levels of the severe PE group participants with 24-hour urinary protein.</p

Clinical characteristics of study participants.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean.</p><p>☆:Full term pregnancy compared with preterm pregnancy in mild PE group, P<0.05;</p><p>△:Severe PE group compared with normal pregnant group, P<0.05;</p><p>▴:Severe PE group compared with mild PE group, P<0.05.</p><p>Clinical characteristics of study participants.</p

A: Invasion trophoblast cells stained by eosin under microscope (×400).

<p>A: 0 ng/ml rhCXCL3; B: 1 ng/ml rhCXCL3; C: 10 ng/ml rhCXCL3; D: 50 ng/ml rhCXCL3; E: 100 ng/ml rhCXCL3; F: 200 ng/ml rhCXCL3. G: Effect of rhCXCL3 on the invasiveness of trophoblast cells. Bar: mean; Whisker: standard deviation. a: p<0.05, versus 0 ng/ml; b: p<0.05, versus 1 ng/ml.</p

Effect of rhCXCL3 on the viability of trophoblast cells.

<p>Bar: mean; Whisker: standard deviation. A: HTR-8/SVneo cell viability in different rhCXCL3 concentration. B: Cell viability at different time intervals (12, 24, 48, and 72 h) . a: p<0.05, versus 12 h; b: p<0.05, versus 24 h. C: Cell viability in different rhCXCL3 concentration. a: a: p<0.05, versus 0 ng/ml; b: p<0.05, versus 1 ng/ml; c: p<0.05, versus 10 ng/ml; d: p<0.05, versus 50 ng/ml.</p

CXCL3 expression in placentae of three groups (Immunohistochemistry, SP, ×400).

<p>(S: syncytiotrophoblast; V: vascular endothelial cells) A: CXCL3 expressed on maternal surface of normal placentae; B: CXCL3 expressed on maternal surface of mild preeclamptic placentae; C: CXCL3 expressed on maternal surface of severe preeclamptic placentae; D: CXCL3 expressed on fetal surface of normal placentae; E: CXCL3 expressed on fetal surface of mild preeclamptic placentae; F: CXCL3 expressed on fetal surface of severe preeclamptic placentae; G: negative control; H: human colon adenocarcinoma tissue as positive control.</p

Evaluation of an automated light transmission aggregometry

<p>Light transmission aggregometry (LTA) is the “gold standard” for platelet function assessment, but it is time-consuming and labor intensive. Recently, an automated platelet aggregation method has been developed on a routine coagulation analyzer (Sysmex CS-2100i). In this study, the performances of CS-2100i including repeatability, correlation with a reference aggregometer (Chrono-log Model 700), and the threshold limitation of platelet counts in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were evaluated for clinical use. The agonists were adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid, collagen, epinephrine, and ristocetin. The platelet concentration of PRP was adjusted with platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and physiological saline (PS). The CS-2100i showed an excellent repeatability and a strong correlation with the Chrono-log 700 in performing platelet aggregation, and its threshold limitation of platelet counts in PRP was 80 × 10⁹/L. PPP had an inhibitory impact on platelet aggregation induced by ADP, arachidonic acid, collagen or epinephrine; while PS had an inhibitory impact on ristocetin-induced aggregation. PS should be used to adjust PRP for ADP-, arachidonic acid-, collagen-, or epinephrine-induced aggregation; while PPP was recommended for ristocetin-induced aggregation. The CS-2100i showed an excellent repeatability, a strong correlation with Chrono-log 700, a lower platelet count requirement, a shorter turnaround time for samples, the advantage of being a walk-away technology, and the ability to perform a highly standardized platelet function assessment.</p

Core–Shell Nanocomposites Based on Gold Nanoparticle@Zinc–Iron-Embedded Porous Carbons Derived from Metal–Organic Frameworks as Efficient Dual Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Core–shell nanocomposites based on Au nanoparticle@zinc–iron-embedded porous carbons (Au@Zn–Fe–C) derived from metal–organic frameworks were prepared as bifunctional electrocatalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A single Au nanoparticle of 50–100 nm in diameter was encapsulated within a porous carbon shell embedded with Zn–Fe compounds. The resulting Au@Zn–Fe–C hybrids exhibited apparent catalytic activity for ORR in 0.1 M KOH (with an onset potential of +0.94 V vs RHE, excellent stability and methanol tolerance) and for HER as well, which was evidenced by a low onset potential of −0.08 V vs RHE and a stable current density of 10 mA cm^–2 at only −0.123 V vs RHE in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. The encapsulated Au nanoparticles played an important role in determining the electrocatalytic activity for ORR and HER by promoting electron transfer to the zinc–iron-embedded porous carbon layer, and the electrocatalytic activity was found to vary with both the loading of the gold nanoparticle cores and the thickness of the metal–carbon shells. The experimental results suggested that metal-embedded porous carbons derived from metal–organic frameworks might be viable alternative catalysts for both ORR and HER

Ultrathin N‑Doped Mo₂C Nanosheets with Exposed Active Sites as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Probing competent electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of water splitting is one of the most hopeful approaches to confront the energy and environmental crisis. Herein, we highlight ultrathin N-doped Mo₂C nanosheets (N-Mo₂C NSs) in the role of greatly efficient platinum-free-based electrocatalysts for the HER. The transformation of crystal phase and structure between MoO₂ nanosheets with a thickness of ∼1.1 nm and N-Mo₂C NSs with a thickness of ∼1.0 nm is studied in detail. Structural analyses make clear that the surfaces of the N-Mo₂C NSs are absolutely encompassed by apical Mo atoms, hence affording an ideal catalyst prototype to expose the role of Mo atoms for the duration of HER catalysis. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the nanosheet structure, N doping, and particular crystalline phase of Mo₂C produce more exposed Mo active sites, including Mo atoms on the C plane and doped N atoms. Through detailed electrochemical investigations, N-Mo₂C NSs possess HER activity with an onset potential of −48.3 mV <i>vs</i> RHE, Tafel slope of 44.5 mV dec^–1, and overpotential of 99 mV <i>vs</i> RHE at the cathodic current density of 10 mA cm^–2 with excellent long-term stability. Lastly, the calcination temperature and dicyandiamide amount can obviously affect the phase transformation and surface structure of molybdenum carbide, resulting in an adjustable HER activity. This synthesis mechanism will facilitate the understanding and optimization of Mo-based electrocatalysts in the energy conversion field

The OPG mRNA level in human placental tissues.

<p>The OPG mRNA level in severe preeclamptic group was much higher than those of the mild preeclamptic and normal control group.</p